As Charlie sat on the train on her brief Monday morning commute to the office, she wondered if she had ever had to improvise as much as she had in the last two weeks. Probably not since standard grade Drama - she guessed that had stood her in good stead after all, despite her parents telling her she should be doing something more practical as a subject.

She unconsciously sank her teeth into her bottom lip as she acknowledged to herself that this was probably something she shouldn't admit to her folks though. 

There had been another moment in the pub on Saturday afternoon when she had been put on the spot, when Jake had commented on how little she seemed to actually see Paul. "Not that I'm complaining but I don't know how you have time to work and to see me and him," he had chuckled. And he had a point, she realised.

She'd airily replied that as they'd be spending their life together very soon they'd decided to spend a bit less time together in the run- up to the event. She was actually worried she had actually maybe, in her muddled explanation, made it actually sound that they'd agreed to have final flings right before they got married. But then, as this was technically what she was doing, it wouldn't be that far off the mark if imaginary Paul was also having an imaginary fling. 

Her brain was frazzled.

The train pulled into the station and Charlie began squeezing through people to alight onto the platform, remembering that she hated public transport and other people, and this was why she usually walked into the city centre. That morning though she had really wanted to get an early start . . . And time to grab a Costa hot chocolate and lemon muffin. Which surely counted as a healthy breakfast because of the fruit content?

Sitting down at her desk, Costa goodies in hand, she had barely time to switch on her computer before Belinda and Shelia had plonked themselves down next to her. "Good weekend?" Belinda asked eagerly.

"Yeah, it was great," Charlie replied absently, trying to remember what she had changed her password to on Friday and what punctuation mark she had used at the end this time. "How about yours?"

"Oh come on, Charlie, you need to tell us what happened with Aaron!" Shelia urged. That got Charlie's full attention. 

"What do you mean?"

"You went away to talk, and then he came and got your stuff and said you weren't feeling great and he was going to make sure you got in a taxi," Belinda said, her eyebrows raised skeptically. "Are you telling us nothing happened there?"

"Nothing did happen," she replied. "He got me a portion of chips and cheese, and then put me in a taxi."

Belinda and Shelia looked at each other and chorused; "Aw! How sweet!" Then nudged each other and giggled like ten year olds. Charlie rolled her eyes.

"Seriously though, when are you two going to realise you're made for each other?" Shelia said, looking exasperated. "You're like the Pam and Jim of this office; we're all rooting for you."

"Hey look, if you recall, I was very much into him and then he screwed me over as soon as I was single," Charlie said faux-casually. "I've moved on."

"You talk about him like he's some lothario who goes around collecting the hearts he has deliberately smashed," Belinda cried, somewhat overdramatically. "He's a mild-mannered accountant without a bad bone in his body, who is quite clearly still into you despite whatever happened between you in the past." She leaned forward conspiratorially, lowering her voice. "And don't think we didn't all see the two of you getting hot and heavy at the Christmas night out last year."

Charlie knew her face had went crimson by this point. She hadn't realised anyone had actually witnessed that "Oh my god!" She put her head in her hands briefly and took a deep breath. "Look guys, we spoke the other night, and we're friends again, but it's not like that anymore."

At that point, as if on cue, who appeared in the doorway but the man himself. 

Gone was the tired, serious guy of Friday night; Aaron was fresh faced, clean shaven and sparkly eyed, and looking exceptionally good in a blinding white shirt. He looked like his old self.  She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. She suspected she preferred the other version. "Morning," he smiled at them. Was it her imagination or did his dark eyes linger on hers slightly longer than the others?

As he walked away, Belinda pretended to fan herself. "Say what you like," she whispered. "But the sparks between you two are heating up the whole office." She and Shelia returned to their desks but not before she pointedly shouted, apparently to the room at large, "Can we turn the air con up please?"

Charlie pressed a hot hand to an equally hot cheek and closed her eyes briefly. Actually, she thought, as she opened them and caught Aaron's eyes again, maybe it would be a good idea if someone did turn up the air conditioning. 

----------

She was hyper-aware of him that day, her spider senses tingling any time he was near. It didn't help that she couldn't stop thinking about Belinda saying it was obvious he still liked her.

Just a couple of weeks ago, she had loathed him like a Christmas jumper. But now she was wondering if she ever actually had hated him. Or had her pride just been hurt when he rejected her? Because looking at him now she saw a completely different guy from the one she’d been shooting dirty looks at for the last few months. It felt like he was back to being pre-kiss Aaron, the one she'd been sure could be The One.

Just friends, she reminded herself, as they accidentally made eye contact for the sixth or seventh time that day. Never mind the fact she had a Jake, she couldn't put herself through that again. 

"So why do I bloody feel like I'm starting to fancy him all over again?" she mused to Thea later. They were camped in front of the tv, drinking diet Irn Bru but both clearly wishing it was something stronger, and Charlie had just caught up Thea on everything that had happened the previous Friday night as their paths had unusually not crossed all weekend.

Thea sighed, not unkindly. "I can't believe we've came full circle and you're back to liking Aaron." She sipped her juice. "Where does that leave Jake though?"

Charlie shrugged. "Jake wants me. Aaron . . . Well, I don't know for sure he does anymore. Best to play the odds." 

Her friend gave her a look. "Speaking of playing, have you thought about how you're going to keep up your role-of-a-lifetime playing a girl with a fiance? Your imaginary wedding is fast approaching, after all."

It was Charlie's turn to sigh. "I really don't know. I'm thinking maybe I could just tell him me and Paul have decided to split up… but I've painted such a good picture of our amazing romance that I'm not sure it will be believable." 

Thea started to laugh. "Sorry, but that's actually hilarious Charlie. If your romance was that amazing you wouldn't be shagging someone else."

"It's just pre-wedding jitters," Charlie protested, then gasped as she realised what she had said. 

"You sound like you're starting to believe your own lies." Thea warned. She shook her head. "I know you want to believe that Jake will still hang around if you're single but just please be careful. Remember how this all started."

"Yeah, because of you," Charlie said lightly. But there was an undertone there. Because it was Thea who had put her in this situation. Okay, she hadn't exactly held a gun to her head and forced her to keep seeing Jake after the first night together but she would never have been in this situation in the first place had Thea not suggested it. "Your idea, remember?"

Thea nodded, unsmiling. "Yep. And I can't say I don't regret it a wee bit now." As if realising she was being a bit harsh, she leaned over and hugged Charlie. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I know," she nodded. "Are you okay though, Thea?" It was unusual for her not to see Thea at all at the weekend but she'd been completely absent, returning at 9 pm on Sunday night claiming she'd been at her parents' house and heading straight for bed. She seemed drained then, and she still did now. She hadn't seemed properly herself for a few weeks now and Charlie was worried. 

Thea hesitated, her hazel eyes cloudy, then nodded. "Yep, it's just some work stress getting me down."

"If you're sure," Charlie took her turn to hug Thea. "You know I'm always…"

"Yeah, thanks, I appreciate it." Thea had obviously had enough affection for the day; her quota was used up. "I'm going to head to bed; I'm absolutely knackered."

Charlie watched her walk away. She felt fairly sure there was more to it than "work stress" but knew that was all she was going to get for now. What on earth was going on with her best friend? And why wouldn't she tell her?